Elections 2019: Voters’ Priorities in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab

As Delhi, Haryana and Punjab are set to go for polling in the last two phases of the ongoing general elections, slated on May 12 and May 19, here are the key issues concerning the people from these states, according to a survey by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

In the survey conducted between October and December last year, ‘better employment opportunities’ remained a top priority for voters in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. While ‘traffic congestion’ and ‘water and air pollution’ are the other major priorities in Delhi, ‘agriculture loan availability’ and ‘higher price realisation for farm products’ are the top voters' priorities in overall Punjab and Haryana.

Seven Lok Sabha constituencies in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and ten in Haryana will go to polls on 12 May and elections for 13 seats in Punjab and the sole seat in Chandigarh will be held on the last phase on May 19.

Government performance in addressing the issues was rated as below average in all the three regions.

The ADR’s all India survey was conducted across 534 Lok Sabha constituencies in which 2.7 lakh voters participated. The survey identified voters’ priorities on specific governance issues, voters’ ratings of the government's performance on those issues, and factors influencing voting behaviour.

Also Read: What Voters Want But Modi Failed to Give: Jobs, Healthcare, Drinking Water

While deciding which candidate to vote for in an election, 87% of Punjab voters stated that their opinion mattered the most, while this number stood at 84% in NCT of Delhi and 86% in Haryana.

In rural Punjab, 60% of the voters surveyed claimed ‘agriculture loan availability’ as top priority. But the government's performance on this aspect was rated poorly, 1.82 on a scale of five. Government performance was rated below average for other top priorities, ‘price realisation for farm products (55%) and ‘agriculture subsidy for seeds or fertilisers’(49%) .

For the urban voters in Punjab, the top most priorities were ‘better employment opportunities

(57%), better hospitals or primary healthcare centres (49%) and water and air pollution (45%). Voters rated the government performance as below average in these issues.

In rural Haryana, top most voters’ priorities were agriculture loan availability (64%), higher

price realisation for farm products (54%) and availability of water for agriculture (49%). For the urban voters in Haryana, the top most priorities were better employment opportunities

(56%), traffic congestion (55%), and water and air pollution (50%).

In urban Delhi, top most voters’ priorities were traffic congestion (50%), water and air

pollution (45%), and better employment opportunities (43%).

For rural voters of Delhi, the top most voters’ priorities were higher price realisation for

farm products (56%), better employment opportunities (52%), and electricity for

agriculture (44%). Government performance in addressing these issues was rated as below average.